Death of 1 Japanese confirmed in N.Z. earthquake

The death of one of the 28 Japanese who remained unaccounted for following an earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, last month was confirmed Sunday, the Foreign Ministry said.

New Zealand police notified relatives of Yoshiko Hirauchi, 61, from Toyama Prefecture, of her death earlier in the day in Christchurch in the presence of Japanese officials, according to the ministry.

Hirauchi was among the 28 students from a language school in the city of Toyama studying at King’s Education language school, located in a six-story building housing Canterbury TV that collapsed in Christchurch.